The Making of the Mahatma Page #3

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not to compromise on matter

of principle, Gandhi-bhai

The principle may be the same

but the circumstances are different

Gandhi-bhai, the point...

- Rustom kaka...

why quibble on minor matters?

There are larger issues at stake

There's still lot to be done.

And you think a month

is going to be enough?

I think maybe you'll have

to stay longer

I've already considered that.

It has taken more than a month...

to get 10,000 signatures

We need to form a regular association

Something like

the Indian National Congress

Yes

Friends...

the Natal Indian Congress is born

on this day... August 22nd, 1894

I thank you for electing me president

And with Gandhi-bhai at my side

as honorary secretary...

my task will be made easy

Gandhi-bhai...

would you like to present the aims

and objectives of the Congress?

Our first aim is to bring about

better understanding...

between people of colour and...

- Speak up, please. We can't hear you

Our first aim is to bring about

better understanding...

between people of colour

and Europeans in the colony

Second; To spread information about

Indian conditions here

Third; To hear our grievances...

and resort to constitutional means

in resolving them

Fourth; To enquire in to the

conditions of indentured Indians...

and to have them overcome

their hardships

Natal Indian Congress.

M.K. Gandhi, Attorney

This office is for helping Indians,

they told me so in the bazaar

Oh dear! What happened?

On the chair!

Mr Peters is my master.

But he's not a good man

This morning he beat me and beat me

See, two teeth are broken.

- Oh dear!

You must help me,

or else I will die

He is a Girmithiya,

he is indentured to one Mr Peters

First let's get a doctor to dress

his wounds. Try Dr Bose

And make sure you get a certificate

about his injuries

Don't worry, we'll take care of you

We'll take you to a magistrate

and lay a complaint

Then we'll get you released

from your contract

Then find a new kind master.

What's your name?

Balasundaram. I have no money

It's all right, we have money

There are many others like me

Jadhubansi, why did

your employer beat you?

I was gone mad, sahab

My baby was burnt

My master gave no medicine

Everyday my baby cried in pain

Where was your baby?

In the stable.

- In the stable?

We sleep in the stable

How many of you?

- Eight, sahab

Eight women?

- No. I'm the only woman

All the others... they are men

They are three Girmithiyas

and four natives

And your baby was all alone

in the stable?

I was... I was only allowed

to feed him at midday

Jadhubansi!

Hurry! The mistress wants you.

- Let me feed my baby. He's hungry

Hurry! She wants you just now

You clumsy girl!

Now look what you've done!

You will go without rations and wages

for a week

What are you looking at?

Leave!

My baby died, sir

I couldn't go back to work

So they beat me

And they kicked me.

For three days they

didn't give me no food

What would you like to do now?

- I will not go back to that master, sahab

They put me in jail four times

because I couldn't go back there

I will stay all my life in jail

but I will not go back to that master

Is there nothing else

you'd rather do?

I will go back to my village

I didn't want to come

They tricked me

Will your people take you back?

They are my people, sahab

They are my people

Your Honour, I request that

Jadhubansi be released in my custody

And that an order be made

for her repatriation

So be it. Granted

All our time is being taken up

with cases of indentured labourers

Jadhubansi can be sent back

because she has people back in India

There're so many people like you, Vincent,

this is the only country they know

Employers only see them as contracted

labour for 35 pounds per annum

Either they work for their employer

or they get shipped back

And those that remain here are forced

now to pay a toll tax of 25 pounds each

It's terrible to ask a family of four

to pay hundred pounds

It's inhuman. The entire system

of indentured labour is evil!

I will petition the Viceroy in India

when I get back to Bombay

Maybe I shall inform the members

of parliament in England too

Vincent, perhaps I should

write a pamphlet

Why not?

Incidentally, when are

you bringing your family over?

As soon as I wind up

my affairs in Bombay

Off Durban Harbour,

Captain Mill!

Captain Mill! Can you hear me?

Yes, I do. Can I land my passengers?

No, not yet.

You're still flying the Quarantine flag

Just a formality, sir.

As we left Bombay, plague broke out

You only left Bombay

eighteen days ago

You will remain quarantined in midstream

until further notice

Why aren't they allowing us to land?

No, it's nothing. Stop worrying

It's Dada Abdullah's ship,

he's bound to do something

But what if they don't

allow us to land?

What will happen then?

Have we done the right thing to come?

Why did you have

to write that pamphlet?

Mr Gandhi came to the colony...

and enjoyed all the privileges

the colony could afford

Instead of facts, he has written

a scandalous pamphlet against us

He has dragged us into the gutter...

and painted us black and filthy

as his own skin

There are thousands of coolies

on those two ships out there...

ready to invade the colony

and take over our jobs

They must be sent back.

The government is refusing to do so

Why? Because they are

Her Majesty's subjects

Order. State attorney

Mr Eskam is here

Gentlemen...

I can assure you that

the government is with you

The entire legislative assembly

is with you

But the laws are not with you

We will pass new laws to prevent

Indians immigrating to the colony

What about the coolies on the ships?

As far as the Indians on the Quoelend

and the DRA are concerned...

we will keep the quarantine up

until they leave of their own accord

I have with me an ultimatum from

the Anti-lndian committee...

which is being formed to prevent

the landing of your passengers

I must inform your passengers

of its contents

All passengers who are desirous

of settling in Natal...

are ignorant of the state of feeling

here in Durban

But we have it from the

Attorney General Harry Eskam that...

if you people are willing to return to

India, the colony will pay the expense

We desire an answer before the ship

comes alongside the wharf

Whether you elect to return to India

or force a landing against...

the thousands of men who are ready

and waiting to oppose your landing.

Silence! Silence!

Silence!

You cannot be stopped

from landing, legally

You are being quarantined.

We are now to anchorage for 26 days

And each day costs my company

150 pounds

That does not matter.

What is important is our dignity

I will fight with you

to the bitter end

Quarantine, or no quarantine,

you will all disembark

The government is responsible

for your safety

We have every right to land

and we will land

Please inform the Anti-lndian Committee

that we do not agree to return

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